Book reviews for books read April 1st - April 13th

 

Happy almost Monday. It seems like I can only run behind this month. I read three ARCs and listened to one audiobook in the first couple of weeks this month. During that time I have also spent time in four states, including attending the Charm City Romanticon book signing in Ellicott City, Maryland, with my oldest daughter for a girls' weekend. Driving, flying, packing and unpacking books, visiting with friends and family, and even some work at my paying job, have kept me very, very busy. I am also getting reading to leave again. This week I will drive to Aurora, Colorado to attend readers Take Denver as an assistant to author Sara Madderson/Elodie Hart.  I am excited to see more book friends and to meet new authors. But I will also admit that I am tired.  This will be my third signing in six weeks with other travel and obligations in between. I am looking forward to some dedicated reading tome to recover.  In the meantime, take a look at my reviews of these new releases and add them to your TBR. You wont be sorry. Happy reading.

I Wish We Had Forever (Harbour Village #3) 

by Jessica Peterson

ARC: Release Date- 04/11/2024

#BrothersBestFriend #FakeRelationship #SmallTown #ARC

5 Stars

Book three, the final book in the series, can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.

Jen has crushed on Abel forever. Abel recognized that he had feelings for Jen a long time ago. Both of them avoided each other because they knew her brother Tuck would not be happy about it. But sometimes, things happen in life that make you reconsider your priorities.  When this happens to Jen and Abel, pretending isn’t a very big stretch for either of them.

With all the small-town goodness, cameos from other characters in the series, and a rock-solid family patriarch, this book has all the gooey sweetness wrapped in spicy bacon. No one writes about hot times like this author, and I have yet to be disappointed. Creative, hot, tender, and still emotional: they hit all the marks. The Clueless references cracked me up. There were several funny moments along the way. I adored Abel and that he is willing to be vulnerable with Jen. He has some baggage and a rep that isn’t completely justified. Jen has been sleep-walking in her own life. Both were unconsciously waiting for each other. Though it is sad to see the series end, the bonus epilogue wraps up the series very nicely. I am beyond excited to see what’s next.

Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

ARC: Release Date- 04/11/2024

#AgeGap #CurvyGirl #ForcedProximity #GrumpySunshine #SmallTown #ARC

5 STARS

This book, which spins off from “Last on The List”, is the first in a new series.  It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA. There are also a few chapters from Everly’s POV.

When I read the blurb for this I was intrigued. Surrogacy is a subject that can be polarizing and using it in a romcom is unexpected.  When I started reading, I was very quickly hooked in and did not want to stop reading. Trista is 28, scraping by, and the product of an extremely neglectful and abusive childhood. She has a dream and is motivated to realize it. She approaches surrogacy at an agency only to be rejected. When she meets Everly (Wyatt’s niece) by chance and is offered a different opportunity, she fully considers her options. Wyatt (38) is the second oldest of four brothers and the “quiet one” who is viewed as grumpy. He is dealing with grief from parental loss and a deep desire to have a child of his own. He runs into roadblock after roadblock in his efforts to obtain a surrogate until his niece offers to find him a surrogate through her spreadsheet process. His initial meeting with Trista is gold. They are each able to tell their truths clearly and trust is easily formed.

This book takes both characters on a journey of personal discovery and healing. The beginning of each chapter includes headings that I absolutely adored. Wyatt has had his trust broken in the past and believes that he doesn’t need a relationship. Trista doesn’t believe she is worthy of anyone staying around. Reading as Wyatt cared for her and proved to her over and over that she was worthy of love, care, protection, and all the things she was afraid to want: heart-melting. These two were meant to be though it takes a little while to figure it out.  I felt like their initial approach to surrogacy was well thought out and I didn’t have the ick factor that some readers were afraid of. Though they use household tools to get the job done, that is not the important part of the story. Wyatt learning to accept his love for Trista and his desire for her as a wife and not just a surrogate, is a slow process that is about her and not her role. Trista, coming to terms with her worthiness and allowing herself to want her child after never believing that was her path, takes time. Their physical relationship is spicy hot, and the emotions run the gamut. The animal menagerie that is introduced is funny and an interesting counterpoint to the growth of the characters personally.  I loved this book a lot more than I expected, and I am very excited for his brothers to get their HEAs too.

Just This Once (King Family #1 ) by Lena Hendrix

ARC: Release Date- 04/15/2024

#Firefighter #FirstResponder #Forbidden #OneNightStand #OppositesAttract #SmallTown #ARC

5 STARS

Book one in the new King family series is written in first person from an alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA.  It can be read as a standalone, but it is a spinoff of the Sullivan Family series set in the same small town. Readers may find the most benefit if they read that series first and understand the history of the town feud.

Emily is a good girl, a teacher, and the stepdaughter of the fire chief. Whip is a tattooed, pierced, hot, bad boy firefighter. A hot one-night stand leads to the realization that though their chemistry is off the charts, a relationship is not in their future. Or so it would seem. Under Emily’s good girl exterior is a wild woman aching to be released. Underneath Whip’s bad boy exterior is a good man who happens to have a dirty mouth.

These two have an original meet cute, sizzling chemistry, and wonderful banter on their way to each other and forever. They face obstacles, but Whip has a good grovel. The small-town antics, the underlying mystery plot (which should run through the series), hot times, and funny moments made this a very enjoyable read.

Fire In His Blood (Fireblood Dragon #1) by Ruby Dixon

Narrated by Noelle Bridges and Jeremy York

#Audiobook #Paranormal 

4 STARS

I have read some of this author's IPB books and loved them. When I saw the audio in Audible Plus, I grabbed it for my road trip. Written in first person, this is primarily told from Claudia's POV with some insight from the dragon, Kael. It can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.

I loved the idea of the post-apocalyptic, dystopian world where survival is not guaranteed the attacking enemy is hoards of dragons. Like most stories set in worlds like this, the government institutions set up to help the citizens are corrupt and and typically cause more harm than good instead. Claudia knows this after seven years trying to keep her sister, her friend, and herself alive in a dark and desperate world. The meet cute she has with the dragon is less than cute and it takes time (as it should) for them to learn to understand each other and to build trust. 

Eventually there are some steamy moments. What I loved most was Kael's POV as he learned to communicate with Claudia. Some his approaches were misguided and funny but they do eventually get to a place where they are together romantically and can communicate with each other. One thing this author does an exceptional job with is world building, and this book confirms that yet again. A lot of readers have criticized the heroine for her choices. I will admit that there are times when her thought are overly repetitive. I really can't say mine would not also be in her shoes though, so... I think it is important for readers to try and put themselves in her shoes and imagine how they would feel in that situation. 

The narration was very well done.  I especially appreciated the voice for Kael. The raspy, sometimes confused, eager dragon was perfectly portrayed. Claudia's narrator captured her fear, snark, sarcasm, and bravery to a T. I am interested in listening to more of this series. I just need more road trips. Overall, I loved the world and I think this book sets up what should be a fantastic series.